Karry's Deli in Barry hanging by a thread and not being paid

Karry Meyrick, owner of Karry’s Deli on Park Crescent, says in the current economic climate she doesn’t see herself being paid even minimum wage for another five years and says it's getting to the point where she is facing making a “hard decision”.

Ms Meyrick's revelation comes in the wake of another independent business in the Vale telling of their struggles.

Betina Skovbro, owner of Brød Danish bakery, described to Dot Davies and James Williams on the BBC Radio Wales breakfast show on October 31 how unpredictable and difficult it is to keep a business afloat at the moment.

Ms Skovbro, who owns three bakery retailers under the Brød brand – one in Penarth and two in Cardiff - went as far as to say she will skip paying herself to keep her business afloat and says at the end of the day if worse comes to worse her family can eat bread.

Ms Meyrick, who runs a plant-based deli, said on Facebook in reaction to the story: “Same here. I still don’t receive a salary since opening in August 2021, and, under the current forecast, don’t envision getting paid even a minimum wage for five to seven years.”

The news comes as Julie Palmer, regional manager of Begbies Traynor Group – a bank which specialises in corporate recovery - described how up to 40,000 businesses in the UK are under the red flag definition of “critical financial distress”.

Karry Meyrick says she is concerned for the future of her business (Image: Karry's Deli Insta)

Karry's Deli, on Park Crescent, a plant based deli (Image: Google Maps)

• Brød bakery tells BBC struggles of running business

Ms Meyrick told of her struggles in heartfelt posts on social media, describing how she can’t see what the future of her business will be just months down the line.

“I’m still receiving no salary and working six days a week with no days off or holiday,” said Ms Meyrick.

“I feel my future is now only months before I need to make the hard decision.”

Karry's Deli, keeping the ‘high street’ shopping area of Park Crescent alive with a bright-fresh store (Image: Google Maps)

Betina Skovbro, owner of Brød, has described her struggles (Image: Google Maps)

Despite this, Ms Meyrick says she is determined to fight.

Ms Meyrick went on to say: “Opening Karry’s Deli on Park Crescent in August 2021, it’s been and continues to be a rollercoaster with no let-up of challenges, but I’m here, at least for now, but I’m also open enough to accept change is a constant no matter how much you forecast.

“Thank you from the bottom of my soul for supporting my little dream that Barry would have a small specially all-plant-based eco-focused shop, keeping the ‘high street’ shopping area of Park Crescent alive with a bright-fresh store and new concept in a new emerging market.

“I feel I’m helping the community, your choices to improve your health, the environment and your pocket for long-term health benefits.”

Are you an independent business in Barry struggling to make ends meet? Let us know by emailing hary.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.